FAA Issues Approvals to Sandel Avionics’ HeliTAWS

Sandel Avionics has received FAA approval for its first HeliTAWS Approved Model List (AML) Supplemental Type Certificates for Part 27 and Part 29 helicopters.

Photo, courtesy of Sandel Avionics.

The AML-STC allows for appropriate reuse compliance data across TC data sheets. Under the approval, Sandel's models can be used more progressively, by updating its AML listing, which can provide more standardized installation for approved models listed on the AML.

Eurocopter AS350 airframes are covered under Sandel's ST3400H Part 27 AML-STC, and Bell 412 airframes are covered under the ST3400H Part 29 AML-STC.

“Sandel is working aggressively to add additional airframes to each AML-STC,” said Varun Malik, director of certification for Sandel. “It is a challenging and iterative process, but we were able satisfy all the stakeholders at FAA. The end goal of the AML STC is to have the product installed on many airframes using the data that was used for initial STC.”

The approval was obtained in a timely manner, shortly following the FAA's recently issued mandate requiring all air medical helicopter operators to equip with helicopter terrain awareness avionics systems.

Sandel is looking at a number of airframes for its next round of GAP analysis for HeliTAWS, including Bell 212 and 206 variants, as well as the Eurocopter EC130 T2.